Masterful Meregali

I have been obsessing over Nicholas Meregali's performance at the 2023 IBJJF Pan American Championship for days. I knew about his decision to work with John Danaher and Gordon Ryan of late, so he has definitely been on my radar. But his accomplishment at this year's Pan - winning both weight and open divisions AND finishing the vast majority of his opponents - has been truly one for the history books.

FloGrappling's All Access coverage of Meregali's journey is as good as anything they've put together. It's available for free on YouTube. I've long been a fan of FloGrappling's work. Take a look for yourself and see why.

Watching The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3

Spent the evening taking in The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3, a grappling event that was initially going to showcase the must-happen rematch between Gordon Ryan and Vinny Magalhães. This rematch did not happen due to a medical issue for Vinny. So we got a new main event with Ryan rematching his ADCC victory against former teammate Nicky Rodriguez.

As for the event overall, I very much enjoyed the performance of Mason Fowler in the eight-person tournament. I tend to think that whenever you see a professional grappler win off their back, you've got to take special notice. The fact that Fowler was able to secure submissions from the guard in his first two matches is the kind of thing worth celebrating. Also interesting that Fowler faced off against two very different competitors in the long and lanky Haisam Rida and the short and thick Pat Shahgholi - and finished both.

Also impressed by the incomparable Beatriz Mesquita. Michael Chiesa referred to her match against Meisha Tate as "tough," which is not exactly how I would describe the contest. But the match showcased essentially what you'd expect from a matchup between one of the world's best grapplers and one of the world's grittiest MMA fighters.

With regard to the main event, it's notable that "The Toehold" that NickyRod attacked Gordon with late in the match was immediately referred to as a moral victory by the commentary team. There are some great lessons in the way that Ryan dealt with Rodriguez in the OT, realizing that this was one of those "position before submission" moments and leveraging his superior technical skill to manage his opponent's athletic advantage.

Jiu-Jitsu Kings

 

Jordan, Kobe, Lebron? GSP, Jones, DJ? Brady, Montana, Manning?

Is Gordon Ryan the No Gi GOAT? | Morning Kombat Extra Credit Ep. 28

Gordon Ryan: This Is My Game on Gi

Days before the greatest no-gi grappling competition, and I'm fascinated by Gordon's thoughts about how his game translates into the gi. 

"My entire game is like, if you're standing and I'm on bottom, you go into ashi garame. Well, if I have pants to grab, then it's going to be easier to knock you down. If you're on your knees, then I go into butterfly sweeps with sumi gaeshis. If I can get to a belt, and pull you on to me, sumi gaeshis is easier. Then it's forcing half guard from top position. And if I can get to half guard and I can feed a lapel and use a stronger crossface, I can pass your guard easier. And then mount and back, there's just more friction to hold people and more collars to strangle with ..."

Thoughts on Pena v. Ryan 3

It isn't often that a fighter gets a third shot at an opponent after coming up short the first two times. In mixed martial arts, the inability of former UFC featherweight champion - and fan favorite - Max Holloway to overcome current champion Alexander Volkanovski after three attempts is as poignant a story as Vokanovski's dominance over the division. 

On the other hand, in the same league but years previous, light heavyweight Quinton Rampage Jackson was able to take advantage of a third contest with Wanderlei Silva to get a knockout victory after losing - viciously - to the Brazilian muay Thai specialist in their previous two encounters.

Would Pena v. Ryan 3 be a case of the former or the latter?

I enjoyed the contest. I saw a lot of good jiu-jitsu that I'll be referring back to - if only to see top competitors at work. The fact is that Gordon Ryan is the best in the business of no-gi grappling and there aren't many comers - especially at his size. So I'm grateful to see him against anyone who is both a top competitor and not physically overmatched.

That said, I'm pretty impressed by Chael Sonnen's take about what Pena v. Ryan 3 means in the bigger picture of creating a real, popular "grappling sport" that is enjoyed by more than just its competitors.

Endgame: Pena v. Ryan 3

There have been plenty of great heavyweight jiu-jitsu contests in grappling's great history. And tomorrow's second rematch of Felipe Pena v. Gordon Ryan is easily among the most anticipated.

Flograppling has provided plenty in the way of preview. And I HIGHLY encourage you to partake in every minute of it. Here's one of the early set pieces.

But the best way to pre-funk for tomorrow's contest may be just to watch the first two encounters - both won by Pena.

Gordon v. Pedro: Henry Akins Analyzes Guard Pass and Mount Finish

 

Ryan on Rogan

 

A lot of good takeaways from an interview I've been looking forward to for awhile now. Not a ton of surprises for any one who's been following Ryan's career, but some interesting insights into the teaching approach of the Danaher Death Squad and, more importantly, what he thinks distinguishes the DDS approach to jiu-jitsu from everyone else's.

Gordon, Roids, and the Rest of 'Em

One of the benefits of becoming a bodybuilding fan during the pandemic has been learning a lot more about performance enhancing substances than ever. Among the curators of this exhibition has been "Derek" a guy who runs a supplement company and YouTube channel called "More Plates More Dates."

Derek provides a ton of information on steroids and other performance enhancers, and uses self-described "clickbait" videos on celebrity transformation to help bring folks into his more scientific content. I've watched his video takes on everyone from actor/comedian Kumail Nanjiani to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. And now, apparently by popular request, he's turned his sights on "The King" - Gordon Ryan.

Ryan Rolling, Guard Passing

Part of my strategy for avoiding a totally catastrophic technical performance upon my return to the mat eons from now involves not a small measure of walking in place and staring at videos like this.

What If Rickson is God? What If Gordon is Right?

 

I've enjoyed the Myth of Rickson Gracie as much as any other jiu-jitsu practitioner of my era (started training in 2005). But what has always interested me more than the Myth of Rickson Gracie - or the Reality of Rickson Gracie, for that matter - is the Theory of Rickson Gracie.

The Myth of Rickson Gracie is that he outperforms everyone he trains with. That he is "better" than everyone else. The Reality of Rickson Gracie is likely something a little different.

The Theory asks a more important question for me - and for anyone trying to become more efficient and effective with their jiu-jitsu: What would it take for the Myth to be the Reality? 

What would it require from a jiu-jitsu practitioner to be able to best all-comers, and without any particular exposure to any potential adversary's game? Even more challenging would be to isolate this jiu-jitsu practitioner, largely, from jiu-jitsu's innovations and thus render them even less familiar with the contemporary changes to the art.

I have no idea if such a person is conceivable. And that too is beside the point. The question is: what would it take to create such a person? What would that person have to be capable of? 

Listening to a recent interview with current no-gi pound-for-pound great Gordon Ryan, I was reminded of this Theory of Rickson Gracie idea that I've been noodling for more than a decade. Ryan, in addition to being an incredible grappler, is also a notorious trash-talker who insists repeatedly and without hesitation that he wins because most of his opponents "suck" at jiu-jitsu.

To be clear, Ryan is trash-talking. But I don't think he's kidding, either. And given his technical dominance and high finishing rate rarely seen even among jiu-jitsu's best, I'm inclined to wonder just a little bit: what if he's "right"? Or, more to the point, in what way could Gordon Ryan be correct in his assessment of the jiu-jitsu of at least some (okay, almost all) of his opponents?

I've long thought that I had an answer for the Theory of Rickson Gracie. And hearing today's interview with Ryan, in some ways, not only reaffirms my Theory of Rickson, but is now reinforced by a Theory of Gordon, as well.

"A Leg Pummeling System to Pass the Guard"

 Holy Mother of God. I'm becoming a Gordon Ryan fan boy. #TalesfromtheLockdown

Guard Passing, Gordon Ryan Style

Came across an incredible breakdown of Gordon Ryan's guard passing game the other day. Fascinating to see how he combines some of the passing strategies of guys like Leandro Lo and Demian Maia to create a very straight forward passing attack that does what so few guard passers do: eliminate hip mobility. Very impressed by the work of this "interpreter" from RVV BJJ.

Note that this is the first of a 17-part (!) study of Gordon Ryan's guard passing attack. I plan to spend the balance of 2020 watching every minute of it.